Furnace conveyer chain



Nov. 29, 1938. c. R. WEIS 2,138,317

FURNACE CONVEYER CHAIN Filed Nov. 17, 1936 k 5 i s: 9 e *5 1 g 7 Patented Nov. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES.

2,138,317 H FURNACE CONVEYER CHAIN Charles R. Weiss, Indianapolis, Ind., assignor to Link-Belt Company, a corporation of Illinois Application November", 1936, Serial No. 111,328

19 Claims. (Cl.,198'-168) This invention relates to new and useful im+ provements in furnace conveyer chains.

Ithas beenthe practice for a considerable length of time to feed objects through heat treatment furnaces by means of one or more conveyer chains which operate in channels formed beneath the furnace floor. The conveyer chains have object feeding fingers which project into the heating chamber through narrow slots formed in the furnace floor. Thisarrangement baflles the heat and protects the chain to a considerable extent. However, at times the'chains acquire considerable heat from the high temperatures, and the chain parts lose their strength and become warped or otherwiseunsuited for further service. r

With the advent of the longer type of furnaces, the chain problem has become more important, and in view of existing sprockets, channels, and

the like, radical changes in chain sizes cannot be made. J I

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved form of high temperature furnace conveyer chain of the rolling type. which is lesssusceptible to bending, warping, and the like.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide a roller supported furnace conveyer chain in which no side crowding occurs with the result that the rollers are always free to turn.

Other objectsand advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

' In the accompanying drawing forming apart of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to' designate like parts throughout thesame:

Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly broken away," of a furnace conveyer chain assembly illustrating two links of thechain;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is an exploded view of certain elements of the chain assembly. Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2, reference. character 5 designates in its entirety a center link which can be of one-piece construction, as shown, or may be 'made from several pieces, either construction including a pitch hole I at each end thereof. Each end of each pitch holeis formed with a concentric recess 1. Between the .end portions of the center link 5,

which are provided with the pitch holes 6, the

center link is provided with apairof spaced, up-

standing attachment mountings 8 which are provided'to have connectedthereto' object or material feeding fingers, not shown, which are adapted to extend into a furnacefor feeding objects, or the like, through the heating zone of the 5 furnace. Each endof the center. link 5' is intended to have connected thereto a pair of side bars 9. One pair of theseside bars is illustrated in Figure 1. Each side bar,9 has :a pitch hole i0 10 formed in each of its end portions. Each side bar 9 has a boss ll projecting laterally, inwardly from each end portion of the same and arranged concentrically with a pitch hole It).

Each end of each side bar 9 has projecting lat- 15 erally, outwardly a pair of locking lugs I2 which are concentrically arranged with respect to the pitch hole [0. Each one of the side bars Sis adapted to be arranged with each one of its end bosses ll within a recess 1 at one end of a; 20 g center link 5. This assembly is clearly illustrated in section in Figures land- 2. For the purpose of pivotally connecting the center link 5 to theillustrated pair of side bars I 8, a chain pin i3 is arranged within the pitch 25 holes 6 and iii of these elements. The chain pin 13 is of proper length to project beyond the outer side facesof both of the side bars 9. Each projecting end of the chain piril3 has mounted thereon a'hardened bearing bushing I4. Fig- 30 ures 2 and3 illustrate each bushing H as having formed 'on one end thereof a pair of locking lugs l5; These locking lugs are adapted to be received between the adjacent end portions of the locking lug l2 formed on the associated side 35 bar 9. This locking connection between the bearing bushing-i4 and its associated side bar 9 prevents relative angular movement between these elements. The opposite end portion of the bushing I4 is provided with apertures Hi to re- 40 ceive a retaining pin or cotter ll.

Each bearing bushing i4 is intended to have mounted thereon a supporting roller 18. For the purpose of retaining the roller against axial outward displacement from its bushing I4,"a washer 45 I9 is mounted upon the bushing ll outwardly of the roller l8. This washer is notched at 20' to accommodatethe retaining pin or cotter il.

It will be noted that the retaining pin or cotter ll functions to lock the bushing H to the 50 chain pin l3 to prevent eitherrelative axial or relative angular movement between. the chain pin and the bushing.' It will also'be recalled that the bushing has been described as being locked to its associated side bar 8 so as to pre- 55 vent relative angular movement between the bushing and side bar. The retaining pin or cotter l'l also functions to prevent rotation of the washer l9.

It will be appreciated that the combination of the recess 1 and boss H of the center link 5 and side bar 9, respectively, synchronized with the shear value of the chain pin I3, reducesbending moment on the pin, and consequently at elevated temperatures the'chain pin is less susceptible, to bending. The described association of the side bar 9 with the bushing H, the washer l9, and the retaining or cotter pin ll preventsside crowding so that the roller is always free to turn and has no tendency to bind.

It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and" described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and projecting end of the chain pin, a supporting roller journaled on each bushing, and means at the ends of the chain pin for retaining the rollers and bushings in place.

2. In a furnace conveyer chain assembly, a center link having recesses at the ends of its pitch holes, side bars having bosses received in said recesses, a chain pin connecting a pair of side bars to the center link and projecting beyond each side of the assembly, a bearing bushing mounted on each projecting end of the chain pin, means for locking the bushings to the side bars to prevent angular movement-therebetween, a supporting roller journaled on each bushing, and means for retaining the rollers in, place.

3. In a furnace conveyer chain assembly, a center link having recesses at the ends of its pitch holes side bars having bosses received in said recesses, a chain pin connecting a pair of side bars to the center link and projecting beyond each side of the assembly, a bearing bushing mounted on each projecting end of the chain pin, means for locking the bushings to-the chain pins to prevent movement therebetween, a supporting roller journaled'orr each bushing, and means for retaining the rollers in place.

4. In a furnace conveyer chain assembly, a center link having recesses at the ends of its pitch holes, side bars having bosses received in said recesses, a chain pin connecting a pair of side bars to the center link and projecting beyond each side of the assembly, a bearing bushing mounted on each projecting end of the chain pin, means for locking the bushings to the s de bars to prevent angular movement therebetween, means for locking the bushings to the chain pin to prevent movement therebetween, a supporting roller journaled on each bushing, and means for retaining the rollers in place.

5. In a furnace conveyer chain assembly, a center link having recesses at the ends of its pitch holes, side bars having bosses received in said recesses, a chain pin connecting a pair of side bars to the center link and projecting beyond each side of the assembly, a bearing bushing mounted on each projecting end of the chain pin, interfltting lugs formed on the bushings and side bars to lock the same against relative angular movement, a supporting roller journaled on each bushing, and means for retaining the rollers 5 side bars to the center link and projecting be- H yond each side of the assembly, a bearing bushing mounted on each projecting end of the chain pin, retaining pins for locking the bushings to the chain pin, a supporting roller jouraled on each bushing, and means for retaining the rollers in place.

7. In a furnace conveyer chain assembly, a center link having recesses" at the ends of its pitch holes', side bars having bosses received in said recesses, a chain pin connecting a pair {of side bars to'the center link and projecting beyond eachside of the assembly, a bearing bushing mounted on each projecting end of the chain pin, interfitting lugs formed on the bushings and side bars to lock the same against relative angular movement, retaining pins for interlocking the bushings to the chain pin, a supporting roller journaled on each bushing, and means for retaining the rollers in place.

8. In a furnace conveyer chain assembly, a center link having recesses at the ends of its pitch holes, side bars having bosses mounted in said recesses, a chain pinconnecting a pair 'of side bars to the center link and projecting-beyond each side of the assembly, a bearing bushing mounted oneach projecting end of the chain pin,

.a supporting roller journaled on each bushing, a

retaining washer mounted outwardly of each roller, and means for locking the bushing, the chain pin, and the washer against relative angular movement. V

9. In a conveyer chain assembly, a chain link side bar, a chain pin mounted in the pitch hole of said side bar and projecting beyondthe outside face thereof, a hardened bearing bushing mounted solely on the projecting portion of the chain-pin and arranged entirely outwardly of the side bar, means for locking the end of the bushing and the side of the sidebar which are adjacent to each other together to prevent relative angular movements, and a supporting roller journaled on the bushing.

10. In a conveyer chain assembly, a chain link side bar, a chain pin mounted in the pitch hole of said side bar and projecting beyond one face of the sidebar, a hardened bearing bushing mounted on the projecting portion of the chain pin, means for locking the bushing to the chain pin to prevent relative axial and angular movement therebetween, and a supporting roller journaled on the bushing.

11. In a furnace conveyer chain assembly, a center link and side bars having aligned pitch holes, a chain pin connecting a pair of side bars to the center link and projecting beyond each side of the assembly, a bearing bushing mounted entirely on each projecting end of the chain pin, axialy extending interfltting lugs formed on the bushings and side bars to lock the same against relative angular movement, a supporting roller journaled on each bushing, and means for retaining the rollers in place.

12. In a furnace conveyer chain assembly, a

center link and side bars having aligned pitch holes, a chain pin connecting a pair of side bars to the center link and projecting beyond each side of the assembly, a bearing bushing mounted entirely on each projecting end of the chain, axially extending interfitting lugs formed on the bushings and side bars to lock the same against relative angular movement, retaining pins for interlocking the bushings to the chain pin, a supporting roller journaled on each bushing, and means for retaining the rollers in place.

13. In a furnace conveyer chain assembly, a centerlink and side bars having aligned pitch holes, a chain pin connecting a pair of side bars to the center link and projecting beyond each side of the assembly, a bearing bushing mounted on each projecting end of the chain pin, a supporting roller journaled on each bushing, a reroller, and means for locking the bushing, the chain pin and' the washer against relative angular movement.

14. In a furnace conveyer chain assembly, a center link having recesses at the ends of a pitch hole which is of uniform diameter between said recesses, side bars having pitch holes of the sam diameter as said link pitch holes and bosses received in said recesses, a chain pin rotatably fitting said center link and side bars pitch holes to be restrained against bending thereby and projecting beyond each side of the assembly, a bearing bushing mounted on each projecting end of the chain pin, a supporting roller journaled on each bushing, and means at each extremity of the chain pin for maintaining the assembly.

15. In a furnace conveyer chain assembly. a chain link side bar, a chain pin mounted in the pitch hole of said side bar and projecting beyond one face thereof, a bearing bushing mounted entirely on the projecting'portion of the chain pin and laterally of the side bar, axially extending means for locking the end of the bushing adjacent the side bar to said side bar to prevent relative angular movement, and a supporting roller journaled on the bushing.

16. In a furnace conveyer chain assembly, a chain link side bar,a chain pin mounted in the porting roller journaled on the bushing, and

\means to lock the outer end of the bushing to the:

chain pin.

17. In a conveyer chain assembly, a chain link side bar, a chain pin mounted in the pitch hole of said side bar and projecting beyond one face thereof, a bearing bushing mountedrentirely om the chain pin, meansgg the projecting portion of for locking the end of the bushing adjacent the \-side bar to said side bar to preventrelative taining washer mounted outwardly of each angular movement, a supporting roller journaleci on the bushing, a retaining washer mounted on the outer end of the bushing, and means for locking the bushing, the chain pin and the washer together.

18. In a furnace conveyer chain assembly, a

one-piece center link and side bars having aligned pitch holes of the same diameter, a chain pin extending through the pitch holesof said center link and side bars to pivotally connect said link and side bars and projecting beyond each side of the assembly, a bearing bushing mounted entirely on each projecting end of the chain pin, a supporting roller journaled on each bushing, and means positioned outwardly of the rollers for detachably retaining the rollers and the bushings in place.

19. In a conveyer chain assembly, the improvement which comprises a chain link side bar having a pitch hole and a locking lug projecting laterally oi the bar adjacent the'pitch hole, a bearing bushing arranged laterally of the side bar and having means at its inner end to interlock with said lug for preventing angular movement between the bar and bushing, a roller journaied on the bushing, and means for retaining the aforementioned elements assembled.

CHARIESR. WEISS. 

